From Siberia to . . .
This has been the most brutal winter I have known since moving to France. Next week I will be in Bangkok and Siem Reap. Just checked the weather forecast for Siem Reap. Heat index: 132 F !! This is going…
Category Life in France
The story of the santons
Via friend Corey, here is a beautiful post about the Provencal creche, a tradition I have happily adopted.
Day out in Chamonix
Friend Sarah is visiting from the UK and wanted to see a bit of the Alps. So we went to Chamonix, which is an easy hour’s drive from here. It was a beautifully bright and sunny day, and we had…
Some things of little consequence
Was Googling around tonight for where to buy peanut butter M&Ms in France (yeah, yeah), when I chanced upon the M&Ms Wikipedia entry. Some fascinating stuff here. Today was a good day at work, despite the lack of heat (organization…
New Year’s Day
The peas are on the stove for Hoppin’ John. My favorite recipe, courtesy of the late lamented Bill Neal of Crook’s Corner in Chapel Hill. Hoppin’ John Yields 4 to 6 servings Southerners may make resolutions for the New Year,…
Adopting a provençal Christmas tradition
The santons of Provence are beautiful and fun to collect and to read about, as here. Here is my crèche and some of my santons:
Christmas at ave du Bijou
I bought a fabulous old church candelabra from friend Sian, my local brocante dealer. Decided to make it this year’s Christmas “tree.” Enjoy! More photos coming soon, including of my creche and santons.
Melancholy jam
First problem: my beautiful new copper pot for jam-making won’t work on my induction stovetop. Arrrghhh. Second issue: do we think that when Google translate says “wear to a shiver,” it really means “bring to a simmer”? Life in France.…
Baking cupcakes in France
First things first: 1. Make self-rising flour. 2. Make powdered sugar. 3. Make chocolate chips. Now take a short nap.
Writing weekend
Had a deeply inspiring weekend at the Geneva Writers Group biennial conference. Just up the road from me, in Bellevue, Switzerland. Stimulating workshops, interesting people to meet, but, best of all, I WROTE. A LOT. Details to come.